Soap-dispenser.



J. G. MILLER. SOAP DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6, 1911.

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SOAP DISPENSER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 6, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

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wi/tmma/a JACOB G. MILLER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Application filedMarch 6, 1911. Serial No. 612,48.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements'in Soap- Dispensers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to liquid soap dispensers. 4

It has been-my aim in constructing this device to ,provide a liquid soap dispenser which will be entirely sanitary and consequently adapted, from a medical ,standpoint, for hospital use. It will, of course,

be understood that the device may also be employed to advantage in other places, especially in public lavatories.

The most important and striking feature of my invention is dzhat it is operated by the foot instead of bythe hand,-as has heretofore been the practice in the various devices for dispensing liquid soap now in use. By

doing away with the use of the hands for operating the device, it is assured that each user will obtain his portion of the detergent in absolutely clean and sanitary condition. In other words, the provision ofmeans for operating the dispenser by the foot removes all possibilityof the portion of soap received by each individual user having been touched by any one else. It will also be observed that the operation of the device by the foot leaves both of the hands of the user free to receive the liquid soap discharge, whereas with the old form of hand operated dispensers, only one hand is left free to receive the discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for regulating the amount, of li uid soap discharged at each operation of t e device.

A further object is to provide means for indicating when the reservoir of the dispenser requires refilling.

Still another object is to provide means for catching any of the li uid soap which may not be intercepted by the hands of the user.

Further objects will become apparent from the following description.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specified in'the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my. inven-' tion: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dispen ser complete. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale with the middle portion of the column broken away, the waste cup and its supporting bracket being removed, and Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line m-w of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 1 designates the base or anchor plate which is of the required diameter and is preferably made of enameled metal. Fitted in the center of said base plate and extending vertically upward therefrom is a tubular column 2 of convenient height. Upon the top of the column there is fitted a casing 3, preferably made'of enameled metal, corresponding to the base plate. The column is preferably made of nickeled iron tubing.

Within the casing 3 there is arranged areservoir 4 corresponding in shape to the casing or made in any other suitable form. Said reservoir is spaced away from the inner walls of the casingso yoke 5 to pass around the reservoir from top to bottom. The upper end of said yoke is connected to a rod 6 which extends downinto the reservoir through a corresponding opening in a cap plate 7 on the reservoir.

The cap is provided with a downwardly prov j ecting tubular extension 8 which fits around the rod 6 and forms a continuation of the opening in the ca through which said rod enters the reservoir. The lower portion of the tubular extension 8 is provided with a branch nozzle 9 to which is connected the deliveryspout 10 extendingv outwardly through a suitably'packed opening 11 in the wall of the reservoir and also through an opening 12 in the front of thecasing.

()n the lower end of the rod 6 there is mounted a valve casing 13, the base of which is preferably of greater diameter than said rod. Within the valve casing is arranged a ball valve 14 retained in place .valve seat 15 secured in the lower end of said casing. The rod 6 is formed with a longitudinal passage 16 extending upward f 1( n the valve casing to a point above the uncture of the discharge spout with the tubular extension 8. The ball valve is prevented from as to permit a closing this passage in the rod by spaced apart downward projections 17 at the upper end of the valve casing. The base of the valve casing constitutes a plunger which registers with a well 18 in the bottom of the reservoir. Said plunger is normally arranged, at the end of its inward stroke, slightly above the opening oi the well, in order to permit the contents of the reservoir to freely flow into and fill the well after the entire contents of the well, or a portion thereof, has been discharged by each operation of the dispenser. It will-be observed that the rod 6 is provided with an opening or slot 19 which is adapted to register with the opening through the nozzle 9, leading to the discharge spout, when said rod is moved downwardly, but that said slot is normally out of communication with the discharge spout. Consequently. the downward movement of the rod (3 will cause the contents of the well to be forced up through the valve casing, through the longitudinal passage 16 in said rod and into the spout via the slot 19 and nozzle 9, but when the rod is in its raised position, the contents of the reservoir is cut oil from the entrance of the outside atmosphere through the spout, thus preserving the liquid soap in good condition for a much longer timethan it would be possible if it were open to the action of the atmos here. It will be noted that the under sur ace of the valve seat 15 in the valve casing is conical or dome-shape, that is to say, its inner wall converges inwardly and-upwardly. The action olj this form of plunger upon the liquid soap contained in the reservoir is to direct said liquid toward the outlet leading to the interior of the valve casing when the rod 6, carrying said valve casing, is lowered, without causing said liquid soap to foam or lather. It will be readily understood that the formation of lather or foam in the valve casing or the longitudinal passage in the rod would not only obstruct the same and prevent the discharge of the proper quantity from the delivery spout, but would also cause the foam or lather to be diqcharged with the liquid from the spout. h order to prevent the liquid from working up around the rod, and leaking out at the top of the cap plate 7, I form one or more grooves-20, two of which are shown in the drawing, in said cap, which open upon the passage in which said rod is fitted. Any liquid which finds its way up around the rod to said grooves will accumulate therein and form a liquid acking ring therein efiectually preventing eakage past said grooves. The provision of these grooves allows me to dispense with the ordinary packing rings, which are objectionable because they soon wear out and, when tight enough to prevent leakage, interfere with 55 the ready manipulation of the device by resason of the friction they cause upon the ro The reservoir is filled through a funnel 21 fittedin the cap plate 7 and extending up into an opening-22, in the top of the casing 3, which is normally closed by a hinged cover 23 secured by a lock 26. Inorder to indicate when the reservoir requires refilling, I place therein a float 27 on the end of a wire '28 which extends up through the wall of the reservoir and the yoke 5. Thelength of the wire 28 is such that when the liquid is low in the reservoir, the upper end of said wire will be arranged slightly below the cover 23, and when the liquid fills the greater part of the reservoir, said floatis held down below the surface of said fluid by the end of the wire engaging said cover. Consequently, when the cover is raised, if the wire rises above the top of the casing, it will indicate that the reservoir still contains a sufiicicnt quantity of the liquid soap, whereas, if the end of said wire does notrise above the casing, it will be apparent that the reser voir should be refilled.

A bell crank foot lever 29 is pivoted upon the base Plate and has pivotal connection, as at 30, see Fig. 3, with another bell crank lever 31, pivoted below said base plate. The latter lever extends to the center of the base plate and is pivotally connected at its inner end to a link 32 swiveled on the lower end of a connecting rod 33 extending up through the tubular column 2 and connected to the lower end of the yoke 5. Said connecting rod, with the parts attached thereto, is normally held in its raised position by a helical spring 34 interposed between a collar 35 loosely fitted around said connecting rod and fastened to the base plate, and a collar-36 firmly attached to said rod. The free end of the foot lever 29 engages, on its down stroke, the end of an adjustable stud or bolt- 37 whereby the range of movement of said lever may be regulated.

From the above description, taken with the accompanying drawing, it will be a parent that downward pressure upon tie foot lever will lower the rod 6, by reason of the connections between said parts, and that the lowering of said rod will cause a predetermined quantity of liquid soap to be discharged from the spout by reason of the plunger entering the well 18 and forcing the contents thereof up through the valve casing, the longitudinal passage in the rod 6. and thence up through the discharge spout. .It is also apparent that when pressure is removed from the foot lever or treadle, the spring 34 will return the parts to normal position. By adjusting the stud or bolt 37, the quantity of the liquid soap discharged at each operation can be regulated because the arc of movement of the foot lever or trcadle will control the distance that the plunger will move down into.

the Well. It is obvious, of course, that the farther the plunger enters the well, the more of the contents thereof will be discharged.

The lower end of the column 2 is clamped within a split collar 38 on the base plate. Said collar may be loosened or tightened by means of a bolt 39, whereby the base plate may be adjusted so as to bring the foot lever at any desired point around the column with respect to the discharge spout. This will be found very advantageous because in some laboratories it is more convenient to approach the dispenser directly from the front, and in others at the side.

The dispenser as a whole is portable and may be placed in any convenient location.

In order to prevent any of the liquid soap, which may not be intercepted by the hands of the user, from dropping upon the floor, I have provided a removable cup 39 mounted upon a suitable bracket 40 attached to the casing and arranged in line with the discharge spout. Said cup is spaced sufiiciently below the spout to permit the hands to be readily placed below the spout without coming in contact with either. The bracket- 40 may be secured to the casing in any etlicient manner, as by the pins 41 engaging projecting lugs 42 on the central horizontal beads 43, as illustrated. It will be understood, of course, that the liquid soap which collects in the cup may be disposed of at proper intervals. The provision of this cup for catching the waste soap carries out to the fullest extent my purpose of making the dispenser thoroughly sanitary.

I claim:

1. In a liquid soap ,dispenser, the combination, with a pedestal and a casing sup ported thereon, of a reservoir in said casing,

a discharge spout leading from said reservoir, a foot lever mounted on the base of the pedestal, and means connected to said lever and extending up thepedestal for discharging a predetermined quantity of the contents of the reservoir through the spout when said foot lever is depressed.

2. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a pedestal and a casing supported thereon, of a reservoir in said casing, a discharge spout leading from said reservoir, a foot lever mounted on the base of the pedestal, and means connected to said lever and housed in the pedestal for discharging a predetermined quantity of the contents of the reservoir through the spout when said ,foot lever is depressed.

3. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combi nation, with a. pedestal comprising a base plate and restricted column, supported on said column, a'reservoir in said casing, a dischar e spout leading from said reservoir, :1 foot lever mounted on the of a casing nation, with a pedestal and a casing supported thereon, of a reservoir in said casing, a discharge spout leading from said reservoir, an intermediately pivoted foot lever mounted on the base of the pedestal, a second intermediately pivoted lever also mounted on said base and pivotally connected to the foot lever, and means connected to the second lever and extending up the pedestal for discharging a predetermined quantity of the contents of the reservoir through the spout when said foot lever is depressed.

5. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a casing, of a reservoir therein spaced away from the casing, said reservoir and easing having registering openings, a funnel housed in the casing and extending from the opening in the reservoir to the opening in said casing, and a cover for said last mentioned opening.

6. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a casing, of a reservoir therein, said casing and reservoir having registering filling openings, a float in the reservoir, a Wire attached to the float and extending above the reservoir, in alinement with the filling opening in the casing, and a cover for said filling opening in the casing. which. when closed, engages the upper end of said wire and holds said float well down in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

7. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a pedestal and a casing mounted thereon, of a reservoir arranged in the casing and spaced away from the inner wall thereof, a delivery spout leadin from the reservoir, vertically movable mechanism arranged in the reservoir and extending out at the top thereof, a foot lever mounted on the pedestal, a rod connected to said foot lever. and extending'up through the pedestal, and a yoke attached to the upper end of said rod extending around the reservoir and secured to said discharging mechanism.

8. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a casing, of a reservoir therein, said casing having a filling opening, said reservoir being provided with a filling opening and a second opening both registering with the filling opening in the casin a float in the reservoir, a wire attachec to the float and extending above the reservoir through said second opening therein,

ischarging 4 LMBLUQB and a cover for the filling opening in the casing which, when closed, engages the upper end of said wire and holds said float well down in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

9. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination. with a casing, of a reservoir therein spaced away from the casing, said reservoir and easing having registering filling openings. a funnel housed in the casing and extending from the filling opening in the reservoir to that in the casing, a float in the reservoir, a wire attached to the float and extending above the reservoir in alinement with the filling opening in the casing, and a cover for said filling opening in the easing, which when closed, engages the upper end of said wire and holds said float well down in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

10. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a casing, of a reservoir therein spaced away from the casing, said reservoir and easing having registering filling openings, discharging mechanism including a part adapted to reciprocate in the space between the reservoirand casing, a funnel housed in the casing and extending from the filling opening in the reservoir, a float in the reservoir, a wire attached to the float and extending above the reservoir in alinement with the filling opening in the casing, and a cover for said filling opening in the casing which, when closed, engages the upper end of said wire and holds said float well down in the reservoir for the purpose specified.

11. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a pedestal and a casing mounted thereon, of a reservoir in the casing, a discharge spout leading from said reservoir, a well in the bottom of said reservoir, a vertically movable plunger mounted in the res ervoir and adapted to enter the well on its down stroke, a valve in said plunger wheresaid plunger by the contents of the well is forced up into when the latter is depressed and the liquid is retained in said plunger when it rises, means of communication between the interiorof the plunger and the delivery spout whereby the liquid is discharged from said plunger through the spout, a foot lever mounted on the pedestal, and means connected to said lever for reciprocating said plunger.

- 12. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination, with a pedestal and a casing mounted thereon, of a reservoir arranged in the casing and having an opening in its top, a cap fitted in said opening and having a tubular downward projection, a delivery spout connected to said tubular projection, a well in the bottom of the reservoir in vertical alinement with said projection, a vertically movable plunger mounted in said projection and adapted to enter the well when depressed, said plunger having a longitudinal passage therein opening at its upper end upon the interior of the tubular projection, said upper opening in said passage being arranged out of alinement with the delivery spout when the plunger is raised but adapted to be brought into communication with said spout when depressed whereby the contents'of the reservoir is normally cut ofi' from the outside atmosphere and the contents of the well is discharged through the spout via the passage in the plunger when the latter is depressed, a foot lever mounted on the pedestal, means of connection be tween the foot lever and the plunger and resilient means for normally holding said plunger in raised position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JACOB G. MILLER. 

